Still, that’s a lot of money—how can my family afford that?

To answer that, let’s first discussSTICKER PRICE vs. ACTUAL COST

That $41,570 number? That’s the sticker price. It’s big and it’s daunting. But for most families at Calvin, it’s not the number they’ll actually pay.

SCHOLARSHIPS

First, we subtract scholarships—up to $18,000 (based on merit).

GRANTS

Next, we subtract grants—up to $20,000 (based on need).

LOANS

Finally, we subtract student loans—up to $5,500.

ACTUAL COST

What we’re left with is the actual cost, often times significantly less than the original sticker price. It is the amount left over after scholarships, grants and student loans have been applied.

So how much can I expect my actual cost to be?

While the actual cost of Calvin is different for each family, based on merit, need levels and other eligibility criteria, the average financial aid package for incoming students last year was $23,000.

In the fall of 2016, 99% of new Calvin students received scholarships and/or grants—gift money that doesn’t need to be repaid.

Apply for admission and financial aid to find out what YOUR actual cost will be.

Then I’m guessing I’ll come out with$100,000+ in loans, right?

Not even close.

You may have heard the shocking stories of six-figure college debt...

But of the students at Calvin who borrow, average student loan debt is $30,998—a far cry from the amounts we often hear cited.

In fact, 40% of Calvin students graduate with NO debt at all!

That’s still a good chunk of change.How will I repay that?

Calvin grads are successful.

Calvin students develop a great work ethic, starting with 1,500+ on-campus job opportunities.

86% of Calvin students have participated in an internship by the time they graduate—great preparation for after they leave.

98% of the class of 2015 grads were either employed or in grad school one year after graduation.

The Calvin LifeWork program starts with your passion and unleashes your career path, all while teaching you about the value of living well. And it results in a $3,000 scholarship.

As a result, Calvin grads are able to pay back their loans.

Take a look at these loan default rates among graduates:

Calvin College

Private colleges

Public universities

What will I get for my money?

Global experiences that will change everything

You’ll be far more than a tourist in Calvin’s 40+ professor-led study abroad programs each year. Go to China, Hungary, Peru, Ecuador, India and Kenya, where Calvin profs guide global experiences that teach you about justice, privilege, power and humility. In the end, you’ll know what it means to act justly in all things.

The opportunity to study with great minds

Calvin professors are cancer researchers, composers, Fulbright Scholars, former Olympians and even include the Grand Rapids’ poet laureate. The amazing thing? Once you have them in class, they’ll know you by name and help you explore God’s plans for your life.

Excellence on and off the field

Many schools will tout an equal commitment to both education and sport, but Calvin truly lives it out. If you’re a member of one of our 21 varsity sports teams, you’ll study and live alongside your teammates, as committed to one another in academics as you are in the heat of the game. And it doesn’t just stop at varsity sports: Calvin has enough recreational and intramural teams to ensure you’ll find a place to get your game on.

A college where faith is a part of all we do

This isn’t just prayer-at-the-beginning-of-class faith integration. At Calvin you’ll think deeply about how Christian faith impacts business, biology, social work and even how you listen to your favorite music. Along the way, you’ll develop a thoughtful Christian worldview that guides you through life’s most complex situations.

Research opportunities that have real-world impact

In 2014, U.S. News and World Report placed Calvin next to universities like Harvard, Duke and U.C. Berkeley for amazing undergraduate research opportunities. Working on these research projects—in collaboration with your Calvin professors—you can have a significant impact on the lives of people with cancer, HIV and diabetes.

A place where you can thrive in community

Calvin replaces the baggage that comes with traditional college Greek life with a Christian community that is always working to be more welcoming.

A school where diversity is more than just a nice idea

Because nearly a quarter of Calvin’s student body is comprised of international students (10%) and U.S. ethnic minorities (13%), you’re guaranteed to meet people at Calvin who aren’t just like you. And we think that’s a good thing—giving you even more ways to expand your world and become the kind of person who can thrive in any setting.

Calvin’s John M. Perkins Leadership Fellows spend two years learning together about community development, anti-racism and more.

Preparation for the real world

The numbers don’t lie. Calvin graduates surveyed from 2009–2013 say they are working and going to graduate school at astonishingly high rates—99%—even just a year after graduation. They’re working at places like Groupon, Google, Spectrum Health, Herman Miller and more.

Opportunities to give back

Literally from day one, you’ll have opportunities at Calvin to serve others on campus, in the Grand Rapids community and around the world. The best part is that while you’re working for the good of others, your life be transformed as well.

Tradition!

Yes, it takes a bit of courage to plunge into the freezing waters of the Sem Pond or to battle your professors on the gridiron, but it’s worth it to be part of traditions that span generations. If Calvin’s president and profs can do it, so can you.

This is the best kind of peer pressure, where your friends convince you to take part in one of Calvin’s most-talked-about traditions: The Cold Knight Plunge.

But don’t just take our word for it.

In 2016, MONEY Magazine ranked Calvin College the best value among private colleges in Michigan based on educational quality, affordability and career outcomes.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Calvin College #1 on its Midwest Regional Colleges list.